Spring long weekend, April

Enjoy quality birding in Taiga forest and wetlands around Svartådalen
– The Black River Valley of Västmanland. Magnificient birds
like Owls, Woodpeckers and Grouse are the focus of this trip.
We offer close encounters with Ural –
and Tengmalms Owls on ringing excursions,
that also provide good photo opportunities. Great
Grey– and Pygmy Owls
are seen totally in the wild, hunting at sunset over small meadows
in the forest.
Woodpeckers drum in early mornings – six species if you´re
lucky – with Three-toed– and Grey-headed as the jewels
in the crown.

Day 1
Arrival: 14:50 to
Västerås Airport
Meet & greet stop with coffee/tea and sandwiches over Slavonian
Grebes in small wetland area by Ängsö castle.Black- and Lesser
Spotted Woodpecker and Osprey
also frequent the area.
Before sunset we put ourselves in position to await the Great
Grey Owls evening hunt. An unforgettable experience that
often provides breath-taking views on these stunning and obliging
birds.
As Woodcocks rode and the forest
choir of thrushes and Robins is
quieiting down, Pygmy Owls appear
to announce their territory.
Naturally we look for Moose along the way back to the B&B.
Dinner & Night at Fläckebo
B&B.

Day 2
Breakfast at B&B
Morning visit to lake Ösjön with Black-throated
Divers, chance of Nutcracker, Capercaillie
and Hazel Grouse and some nice
Butterflies like Camberwell Beauties,
Holly Blue and Green Hairstreaks.
We pay a visit to the winter feeding station where
Crested–, Willow–, Marsh– and Long-tailed
Tits still might appear, together with Nuthatches
of the white-bellied Scandinavian race.
We continue down to the Black River Valley and its rich wetlands
to enjoy good scenic views, a nice outdoor lunch and to look for
the locally breeding White-tailed Eagles,
flocks of Bean Geese, Smew, and
other wildfowl.
Raptors like Hen Harrier, Rough-legged
Buzzard and Merlin are on
passage through the area and winter-visitors like Great
Grey Shrike and Golden Eagle
might linger on.
Picnic lunch with a view.Ural Owl ringing excursion with
close encounters with Ural Owls. In April we ring incubating females,
in May it´s time to ring the chicks before they leave the
nest. Meanwhile the parents often appear, sometimes aggressively
and close. Moments of good photo opportunities.
Dinner at Fläckebo B&BPygmy Owl or Eagle
Owl evening-excursion.
Night at Fläckebo
B&B.

Day 3
Early rising for Woodpecker Morning with Three-toed–,
Grey-headed–, and Black Woodpeckers.
Ringing of Tengmalms Owls, breeding
in nestboxes. Excellent opportunity to get really close views and
to photograph these charming, little owls.Black-throated Divers, Capercaillie
and Goshawk breed in the area,
as do Woodlark and Parrot
Crossbill.
We enjoy the breakfast outdoors and get back for lunch at the B&B
around noon.
Afternoon Siesta.
Relaxed evening excursion around the beautiful wetlands of Svartådalen
with drumming Snipes and singing
Curlews.
Dinner & Night at Fläckebo
B&B.

Day 4
Early forest morning with leking Black
Grouse on a large bog with breeding Common
Cranes, Osprey, Wood– and Green
Sandpipers.
In the surrrounding forest Crested–
and Willow Tits, Crossbills and
several species of Woodpeckers
including Black– and Grey-headed
appear frequently.
Transfer to airport
Departure at 15:00 from Västerås Airport.